Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Prospect, VA 23960

Prospect: median income $63,533, home value $219,100, $210/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cornersville, TN 37047 93%480$64,688$260,100$201 pricier homes ($41K more)
Pellston, MI 49769 93%657$67,558$160,000$230 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Ontario, WI 54651 93%772$62,159$172,800$248 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Savoy, TX 75479 93%1,032$74,803$209,500$207 Very close on everything we compare
Clearbrook, MN 56634 92%1,115$64,886$216,400$140 Very close on everything we compare
Ochelata, OK 74051 92%962$67,841$178,300$152 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Italy, TX 76651 92%1,098$67,500$224,500$162 larger
Cornish, ME 04020 91%605$69,038$274,200$201 pricier homes ($55K more)
Ararat, NC 27007 91%130$77,163$216,200$202 Very close on everything we compare
Richfield, NC 28137 91%160$67,163$252,700$215 pricier homes ($34K more)
Campbellsburg, KY 40011 91%370$70,881$173,200$194 cheaper homes ($46K less)
North Lewisburg, OH 43060 91%337$62,014$170,300$178 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Otterbein, IN 47970 91%511$74,457$185,300$173 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Fairchild, WI 54741 91%820$62,679$166,700$176 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Ironton, MN 56455 91%1,013$73,214$222,600$163 Very close on everything we compare
Ogema, MN 56569 91%1,113$57,434$209,500— smaller
Eolia, MO 63344 91%689$69,250$186,100$178 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Elmore City, OK 73433 91%1,069$58,194$152,400$177 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Saint Jo, TX 76265 91%1,095$76,036$216,500$175 Very close on everything we compare
Ririe, ID 83443 91%1,775$65,590$247,700$180 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Wadley, AL 36276 90%488$52,471$195,800$241 Very close on everything we compare
Steens, MS 39766 90%608$65,707$162,700— cheaper homes ($56K less)
Upton, KY 42784 90%404$68,699$178,100$153 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Tustin, MI 49688 90%594$63,875$188,500$157 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Pleasantville, IA 50225 90%834$69,923$168,500$175 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.